fedoma

13/04/2026

Dear subscriber,
Kindly find the attached poster for the 2026 inABLE Inclusive African Conference.

12/04/2026

FEDOMA & SIGHTSAVERS SOUND ALARM ON POLICY REVIEW ADVOCACY

The Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (FEDOMA) and Sightsavers International are ramping up efforts to promote inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in development spheres.

Speaking in Lilongwe during a three-day Capacity Building on Policy Review workshop, FEDOMA's Executive Director Simon Munde, stressed the importance of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) familiarizing themselves with Malawi's laws and policies to identify gaps and advocate for change.

"Disability rights must be respected and promoted in our legislations and policies for meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in national development agenda," Munde emphasized.

He added that persons with disabilities are a vital part of human diversity and can contribute meaningfully if their rights are recognised.

Sightsavers' Senior Programmes Manager, Effie Kaminyoghe echoed Munde's sentiments, saying persons with disabilities can contribute to decision-making if laws recognise their rights.

Director of Disability and Elderly Affairs, Davide Njaidi, acknowledged gaps in legislations and policies, promising government's commitment to promoting disability rights.

The workshop aimed to identify gaps in Malawi's laws contrary to international disability standards and draft policy messages for strategic engagement with duty bearers.

FEDOMA and Sightsavers urge OPDs to intensify policy reviews advocacy, domesticating the African Disability Protocol through the Realization of African Disability Protocol (RAD-P Project).

The workshop was organised with funding from the European Commission through Sightsavers International, and brought together various OPDs, including APAM, DHAT, VWD, and EWF.

10/04/2026

08/04/2026

MP MANDA DONATES ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO PwDs IN NSANJE

Nsanje South-West Member of Parliament, Walter McMillan Nyamirandu Manda, has donated assistive devices to persons with disabilities in his constituency to alleviate mobility challenges.

Speaking during the donation ceremony, Manda emphasized the need to support persons with disabilities to foster inclusive development.

"Persons with disabilities face multiple barriers when accessing amenities. Therefore, there's a need to support those who cannot afford to buy the devices for themselves. That is why I decided to come in with a little I had to support just a few individuals with disabilities in this area," he said.

Manda promised to continue engaging authorities at the Orthopedic Section of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital to acquire and maintain more devices for his constituents.

Mphanvu Kalima, a member of Nsanje District Disability Forum (DDF), expressed gratitude for the timely gesture, saying many persons with disabilities in the district face numerous challenges due to lack of assistive devices.

A total of 14 persons with disabilities, including school-going children, received the donation.

The Persons With Disabilities Act of 2024 highlights the protection and promotion of disability rights through meaningful participation in national development.

Providing assistive devices is one way to enable persons with disabilities to actively participate in development activities.

04/04/2026

MEHUCA SOUNDS THE ALARM ON MENTAL HEALTH RiGHTS

The Mental Health Users & Cares Association (MEHUCA), an affiliate of FEDOMA, is ramping up efforts to promote inclusive healthcare for persons with psychosocial disabilities.

Speaking in Blantyre during the Capacity Building on Legal Literacy and Advocacy workshop on April 2, MEHUCA's Executive Director, Memory Bismarck, stressed the importance of members familiarizing themselves with Malawi's Mental Health Law.

"We demand our rights, no one is obliged to violate one's rights at all," Bismarck emphasized, highlighting the need for awareness and popularization of Mental Health law.

She added that persons with lived experience are a vital part of human diversity and can contribute meaningfully to national development if their rights are protected.

The 2025 Mental Health Law aims to promote rights such as access to mental health information, highest attainable mental health care standards, and prohibition of inhuman & degrading treatment.

MEHUCA is urging members to intensify advocacy for these rights, especially in public health facilities where harsh treatments are often reported due to healthcare practitioners' lack of knowledge on disability rights.

MEHUCA's call to action emphasizes the importance of protecting the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities, allowing them to contribute to Malawi's development agenda.

The workshop was made possible with funding from the Disability Rights Fund (DRF).

30/03/2026

ATTEND 2026 INCLUSIVE AFRICA CONFERENCE

Your organisation is partnered with inABLE.org and are pleased to invite you to the 7th Inclusive Africa Conference 2026.

This will be a virtual and in-person event that will be held on 2nd – 4th June 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya from 9AM – 5PM East African Time. The conference theme is: Accelerating Digital Accessibility and AI Solutions for Africa’s Future.

Register for a free virtual ticket using referral code *[ insert country code with 'a' e.g. 267a]* through this link; https://kutanaevents.com/audience/a9c8f094-990d-400f-aab3-b82ab5ef5881/home

For any inquiries, feel free to reach out for assistance via the following email or phone number: [[email protected]./+254705409363]

26/03/2026

COMMEMORATE PURPLE DAY-26thMARCH

Purple Day for epilepsy is on March 26 every year. Purple Day is actually an international event held on March 26 to raise awareness about epilepsy.

The focus is on raising awareness about epilepsy, breaking stigma, and supporting those affected. Some suggested messages include:
- "Break the Stigma. Spread Awareness."
- "Support, care, and awareness can change lives.

Epilepsy is another type of disability and sometimes people tend to neglect this type of disability due its minimal visibility.

You can get involved by wearing purple on purple day, sharing awareness posts, attending events, and educating yourself and others about epilepsy.

22/03/2026

20/03/2026

CALL FOR CONSULTANCY TO DEVELOP ORGANIZATIONS’ SAFEGUARDING POLICIES

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TORs) FOR THE CONSULTANCY

PROJECT NAME: CREATING WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES AND REFUGEES IN MALAWI

1. Background

The consortium of Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA), Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA) in partnership with AGRA is implementing a 34-month project (November 2025–August 2028) aimed at creating 16,000 work opportunities in agriculture for youth with disabilities and refugees in Malawi. The project, “Creating Work Opportunities in Agriculture for Youth with Disabilities and Refugees in Malawi”, is particularly looking at promoting economic empowerment and livelihood of these vulnerable and marginalized groups through decent work and jobs in agriculture.

This project will target 21,000 young women and men (16,000 youth with disabilities and 4,000 refugees) across 15 districts in five (5) Agricultural Development Divisions (ADDs): Lilongwe, Kasungu, Machinga, Salima, and Mzuzu. The targeted value chains include soybeans, maize, groundnuts, poultry production, beekeeping, piggery, and horticulture. The overall objective of the project is to create 16,000 work opportunities in agriculture for youth with disabilities and refugees in Malawi by August 2028.

The overall objective of the project is to create 16,000 work opportunities in agriculture for youth with disabilities and refugees in Malawi by August 2028. Specifically, the project aims at:
Increasing inclusive agricultural productivity and employment opportunities for young people with disabilities and young refugees through skills development, access to productive assets and technologies.
Expanding inclusive market opportunities for young people with disabilities and young refugees through strengthened linkages, access to finance, BDS, and market information in the targeted value chains.
Strengthening inclusive policies, safeguarding frameworks, and institutional capacities that promote the participation of young persons with disabilities and young refugees in agri-business.

The consortium would like to engage an experienced and well qualified individual consultant to develop a comprehensive disability inclusive safeguarding policies for MACODA and FEDOMA

2. Objective of the Assignment

The consultant will be expected to develop a comprehensive and disability inclusive Safeguarding Policy for MACODA and FEDOMA. The policy should address key safeguarding risks, define procedures for reporting and responding to incidents, and outline clear roles and responsibilities for all involved parties.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will work closely with MACODA and FEDOMA’s management team and other stakeholders to:
Assess Current Safeguarding Practices: Review MACODA and FEDOMA’s existing procedures, guidelines, and frameworks related to safeguarding, if any.
Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with key internal and external stakeholders to understand the unique safeguarding needs and risks within the organization.
Policy Development: Draft a safeguarding policy that includes, but is not limited to:
Definitions, primary target and scope of safeguarding within MACODA and FEDOMA’s operations.
Procedures for preventing, identifying, and reporting safeguarding issues.
A code of conduct for staff, contractors, and partners.
Confidentiality and protection of whistleblowers.
Response mechanisms and disciplinary actions for safeguarding violations.
Capacity Building and Training Recommendations: Provide recommendations on how MACODA and FEDOMA can effectively implement the policy, including any training needs for staff and stakeholders.

Finalization of Policy: Incorporate feedback from MACODA and FEDOMA and finalize the safeguarding policy for adoption and implementation.
Orient MACODA and FEDOMA management and staff on the developed safeguarding policy

4. Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:
Inception Report: A report outlining the methodology and work plan for the consultancy, to be submitted within 5 days of the start of the assignment for each organization.

Draft Safeguarding Policy: A draft safeguarding policy and a code of conduct each for MACODA and FEDOMA’s review.

Final Safeguarding Policy:

A final version of the safeguarding policy and code of conduct for each organization, incorporating feedback from MACODA and FEDOMA.

Implementation Plan:

A detailed plan outlining how MACODA and FEDOMA can implement the policy, including training and capacity-building recommendations.

Orientation:

orient MACODA and FEDOMA Management and staff on the newly developed safeguarding policy and the code of conduct

5. Duration of the

Assignment

The consultancy is expected to take place over a period of 8 weeks from the date of contract award.
6.
Required Qualifications and Experience

The consultant should have the following qualifications:
Master’s Degree in law, human rights, social studies, gender, rural development and any other relevance qualification

At least 5 years’ experience gender, inclusion, safeguarding and protection in youth programming
Strong understanding of gender equality principles and practices, the gender equality sector, gender laws, policy priorities and key gender inequalities impacting children, youth men and young women in Malawi
Demonstrable understanding of the concepts of Safeguarding of youths, people with disabilities, refugees and other vulnerable groups, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), UN Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Be familiar with legislation, government guidance, and national frameworks for safeguarding children and adults at risk

Be able to provide in-depth technical analysis and recommendations in safeguarding policies, procedures, reporting and report handling and organizational culture and change.

Proven track record of undertaking similar work

7. Reporting Requirements

The consultant will report to MACODA and FEDOMA management as well as to the AGRA safeguarding officer.
Progress updates will be provided on a bi-weekly basis, with feedback sessions scheduled as needed.

9. Application Process

Interested consultants are requested to submit the following:

A cover letter outlining their approach to this assignment.
CV(s) of the consultant(s).
A list of previous relevant assignments.

Financial proposal outlining the consultant’s fees.
Submission is strictly by email to: [email protected] with the subject line Safeguarding consultancy – NAME OF FIRM

Deadline for Submission: 3rd April, 2026.

08/03/2026

OPDs PRAISE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY TAX REMOVAL ON ASSISTIVE DEVICES

Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in the country have applauded the government for removing duty tax on imported assistive devices, citing it as a significant move towards inclusivity.

"This decision will cut the cost of these devices, making them more affordable for many persons with disabilities," said Elibeth Machinjiri, Executive Director of Disability Rights Organisation Movement (DROM).

Esther Mbite of Voice of Women with Disabilities (VWD), echoed Machinjiri's sentiments, noting the move will enhance social inclusion and livelihoods.

"Quality and inclusive education has been compromised due to lack of accessible learning materials. Removing duty tax on these devices will foster meaningful inclusive education," Mbite said.

The government's decision followed a call by FEDOMA, the umbrella organisation for OPDs, to remove duty tax on assistive devices.

08/03/2026

FEDOMA CALLS FOR SHIFT IN ADVOCACY APPROACH FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES

Women with disabilities in Malawi are being urged to leverage existing disability laws to boost advocacy efforts.

The call was made during an event in Bangwe Township, Blantyre, to mark International Women's Day under the theme "Give to Gain".

"It's our duty to be conversant with disability laws that support our work," said Elifa Banda, FEDOMA Executive Concil member.

Banda emphasized that lack of knowledge about these laws hinders progress.

"Advocacy depends on the backing of the law," she added.

Guest speaker, Martha Mkisi, Principal Social Welfare Officer, echoed these sentiments, advocating for economic empowerment through efforts in provision of assistive devices.

"I want to see women with disabilities empowered, using devices that promote production and economic growth," Mkisi said.

The event was themed 'Give to gain,' focusing on empowering women including those with disabilities, economically.

FEDOMA aims to popularize disability frameworks like the African Disability Protocol and other laws that promote and protect disability rights.

22/02/2026

AUTHORITIES EMPHASIZE SAFEGUARDING PRACTICES FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS

Authorities in the disability sector have emphasized the need to ensure persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are safe from any form of abuse for a sustainable and inclusive future.

The call came out during a one-day safeguarding training session organised by Sightsavers in partnership with FEDOMA in Blantyre on February 19, targeting FEDOMA staff and representatives from Voice of Women with Disabilities (VWD) and Epilepsy Warriors Foundation (EWF).

"We thank Sightsavers for partnering with FEDOMA to conduct such an insightful training. The training is an eye-opener as it has strengthened the OPDs' capacity in their safeguarding initiatives since the group of people we serve are more vulnerable," said Gaston Manda, FEDOMA board member.

Manda urged participants to take the training opportunity seriously, adding that OPDs serve the most marginalized groups who are often victimized.

"We must always know that we serve people who are already victims. Therefore, it's our duty to ensure that persons with disabilities, especially women, children, and those with intellectual disabilities, are safeguarded at all costs," he said.

The training left the OPDs with the knowledge of safeguarding employees and the communities benefiting from their initiatives.